Baking oven wall construction



Oct. 12, 1954 c. KLEIN ETAL BAKING OVEN WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 21. 194' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m \\\IN w i wk Oct. l2, 1954 c. KLEIN ETAL 2,691,432

BA'KING OVEN WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 21., 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 12, 1954 BAKING OVEN WALL CONSTRUCTION Chris Klein, Warrenville, Richard C. Skarin, Western Springs, and William G. Tinker, Itasca, Ill., assignors to The Petersen Oven Company, Franklin Park, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 21, 1949, Serial No. 77,522

(Cl. 18S- 34) 2 Claims. l

The present invention relates to baking ovens of the commercial type, having power driven means within the baking chamber for moving the foodstuis or other materials to be baked therein from a loading station to an unloading station. Ovens of this general type are quite sizeable, occupying a substantial floor area and are relatively expensive.

At the present time, the usual practice employed in the manufacture of such ovens consists in producing various elements and components of the oven and assembling the same, that is, the major portion of such elements, in the factory as a complete oven, after which it is knocked down" and shipped to the site for nal assembly. In shipping the oven to a customer, the various sheet metal plates comprising inner and outer walls of the oven chamber are usually shipped flat, the frame members dis-assembled, and the insulation for use between the inner and outer walls is shipped in bulk. Ovens produced in this manner are in a sense individually tailored or produced, and the parts thereof usually are produced in limited quantity, suflicient for each particular order.l Y Such practice results in relatively high cost, both in production and erection of the oven.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a novel oven construction which y lends itself to a form ofmass production for various sub-assemblies, by-virtue of which it is possible `to eliminate shop, pre-assembly of the oven,` l and which sub-assemblies may be shipped direct to thesite for final andexpeditious erection.

Another object is to provide an improved oven construction wherein the walled enclosure, providing the baking chamber, is formed of a plu- 2rality of unitary panel assemblies, each composed ofan-inner and outer wall disposed in spaced apart relation with a body of insulating material interposedA therebetween.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved construction of walled enclosures for a baking oven which permits quick and easy assem bly in the eld, and which eifects great economies in both manufacture and erection.

Other objects and. advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. inV which:

Figure 1 is a vertical, transverse section through the oven, showing the various panel assemblies constituting the walls of the oven, and the conveying mechanism for moving the foodstuffs within the oven, while the same are being baked, is represented in dot and dash outline;

ing, indicating the manner of connection ofthe top wall to the side walls of the oven;

Figure 5 is a horizontal, sectional view through the oven, taken substantially as `indicated at line 5-5 on Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a panel assembly for use in producing side walls of the oven;

Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective View of an edge portion of the panel represented in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a top view of the panel shown in kFigure 6;

Figure 9 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially as indicated at line 9-9 on Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a perspective View of one of the panel elements for producing the bottom wall of the oven; and

Figure l1 is a fragmentary plan view of the panel shown inFigure 10, with portions broken away to show details of construction.

Inthe drawings the present invention is represented as embodied in a walled enclosure for a Reel type baking oven. The walled enclosure comprises four side walls IIJ, a top wall I I, and a `bottom wall I2, supported on a unitary base frame structure indicated generally at It. The walled enclosure denes a baking chamber I5, and in the front side wall I0,fas clearly seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, there is provided a suitable opening I'i, extending substantially the length of said side wall, through which panned foodstuffs are passed into and removed from the baking chamber I5. The opening I'I is normally closed by a suitable door, indicated generally at I8. l

For purposes of a better understanding of the present invention, the mechanism within the oven chamber for handling of foodstuffs and for effecting baking of the panned foodstuffs or other materials to be baked, together with drive mechaanism, all shown in dot and dash outline, will be briefly described, although it does not form a direct part of the present invention. Within the oven chamber I5 is a reel structure indicated generally at 20, adapted to be rotated about an axis indicated at 2|. The reel includes a plurality of elongated trays 22 adapted at the time of loading and unloading, to be registered with the opening I1 for the placement of panned foodstuffs thereon, or for removal therefrom. In ovens of this type, after all of the trays have been loaded, the door i8 is closed and the reel structure is rotated for a pre-determined period of time for effecting a baking of the panned foodstuffs. The trays are so mounted as to remain in a substantially horizontal, stabilized position during their entire course of travel within the baking cham ber. In the lower portion of the baking chamber is a heat exchanger unit indicated at 2&3, one end of which is connected to a source of heat supplied by a heater unit indicated at 26, and the opposite end being connected. with a blower indicated generally at 28. The blower is connected by suitable ducts for returning a portion of the heat from the heat exchanger to the heater, and for by-passing a portion of the heat from the heat exchanger' to a vent stack indicated at 30. The reel may be driven by any suitable mechanism and the drive therefor is indicated generally at 32, disposed outside the oven wall, as may be seen in Figure l of the drawings.

As may be seen in Figures l and 2 of the drawings, the base frame Hl is a unitary, built-up, structural component having box-like members 4t, interconnected to form a rectangular outline, corresponding substantially to the contour of the walled enclosure of the oven. Mounted on the upper surface of these box-like structures, as may be clearly seen in Figures l and 2 of the drawings, are elongated cleats 2, extending substantially the length of the respective side walls of the oven, adapted for interlocking engagement with the unitary panel components of the side walls lil of the walled enclosure, as will hereinafter be described.

With the exception of the front side wall, as seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, the side walls I are essentially of the same construction. The side walls are each composed of a plurality of preabricated panel components or assemblies indicated generally at 45. Each of these panel assem blies is composed of a pair oi elongated sheet metal plates Il? and 48 of substantially identical size, and constituting inside and outside walls respectively of the enclosure. Each of these plates have their marginal portions bent at right angles to form anges dla and 48a, forming pan-like elements. These plates are disposed in cooperating relation with their respective langes extending toward each other in spaced apart, substantially aligned relation, and enclosed therebetween is a body of heat insulating material 50. For convenience in manufacture, we preferably employ two separate bats of heat insulating material, placing one in each of the respective plate elements il and d8. Before disposing said plate elements with their bats of insulating material therein, in cooperating relation, a plurality oi metallic tubular elements 52, herein shown as pipe sections, are positioned between the bats of insulating material, with the ends of said pipes abutting against and welded to the inner surfaces of the nanges dla and ila, as seen in the drawings. These pipes which extend transversely of the panel assembly, extend substantially horizontally, and are disposed in vertically spaced apart, parallel relation, as seen in Figure 6 of the drawings. Said pipes serve as spacers in the assembly of the two sheet metal plates, as well as the means for connecting said plates together as a unit with the body of insulation therebetween, and further serve as guideways for tie-rods to be hereinafter described. It is to be understood that the tubular elements need not necessarily be pipes, but may be of any other suitable construction such as sheet metal tubular elements.

Positioned against the inner surfaces of the flanges Ma and 48a of the respective sheet metal elements at the upper end of the panel assembly are spacer bars or straps 5i welded to the respec tive flanges. These spacer bars serve to connect said upper end of the sheet metal elements lrmly together, in proper spaced apart relation and said bars are drilled and tapped for the reception of bolts as will hereinafter be described. The upper end of the sheet metal panel l has its corresponding flange dla continuing into an upwardly ein tending mounting flange Mb.

It is to be understood that the panel elements, constituting the front side wall and provided with the opening il may be oi a construction generally similar to that represented in Figure 6 with the exception of reduction in height to provide the opening il.

The panel assemblies comprising the top wall or roof i i and indicated at 53 may be understood to be identical in construction with that represented in Figure 6 of the drawings with the eX- ception that the iiange Alb at the upper end is omitted, and tapped spacer bars 5| are provided at both ends.

The panel assemblies comprising the bottom wall i2 are indicated generally at 55 and are represented in Figures 10 and 1l of the drawings. Each of said panel assemblies comprises a pair of spaced apart, elongated plates 56 and El having their marginal portions bent to form right angularly extending anges 56a and 51a respectively. These plates embrace therebetween a body of heat insulating material 58 similarly to that embodied in the side wall panel construction 45. The plates 5S and 51 are secured together in spaced apart relation by a plurality oi spacer bars 59 welded to the respective anges tito. and 51a of said plates for spacing said plates apart the desired predetermined distance and for rigidly connecting the plates together with the insulating material therebetween as a unitary assembly. The bars at the respective corners of the assembly, as indicated at 68 are preferably of angular formations for rigidifying the connections of the corner portions of the respective plates in assembled relation with respect to each other.

It will now be apparent that the respective panel assemblies may be prefabricated at the factory and may be shipped to the site for assembly and erection in conjunction with other components. As may be seen in the drawings, the panel elements 45, in forming a side wall, are positioned in an edgewise abutting relation and mounted in upright position on the base frame I4. The spacing oi the anges 47a and 48a at the lower end of said panel assemblies is such as to constitute a keyway for the reception of the cleat elements 42 on said base frame structure and thus serve to key or lock the lower ends of the panel assemblies in position on the base frame. After a proper number of such panel assemblies are positioned on the base frame to constitute one of the side walls, said panel assemblies are connected as a unit to constitute a unitary wall by means of a plurality of tie-rods 65 which extend through aligned sets of tubular elements 52. Positioned against the exposed edge of the outermost panels, and rigidly secured thereto by said tie-rods are upright frame members El of angular formation, as seen in Figure 5 of the drawings, with the respective legs of said members constituting the corner connections for the two adjacent side walls. Thus by virtue of the tie-rods, the series of panels constituting the respective side walls are securely connected together as units and which, by virtue of the upright frame members 61 at the corners, serve as the connecting medium between the adjacent side walls.

The panel assemblies 53 comprising the roof or top wall wall are positioned as may be seen in Figures l to 4 of the drawings with their end portions resting upon the top of the respective panels 45 of the side walls, and with their ends, as may be seen in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, abutting against the upwardly extending flanges 4lb of said panel assemblies 45. The panels comprising the top wall or roof are rigidly connected to the panels comprising the side walls by horizontally extending frame members 'I0 of generally angular form with one leg thereof seated upon the panel assemblies 45 and the other leg extending upwardly and positioned against the outer surface of the upstanding ange 41h of said panels 45. Said frame member is rigidly attached to the respective side wall panels and roof panels by means of bolts l2 threaded into the respective spacer bars 5I provided in the respective panel assemblies. The top frame members 'i0 also extend parallel with and extend the length of the roof panel assemblies and are rigidly attached to the roof panel assemblies by the tie-rods 65 extending through the upright leg of said frame members l0, the horizontal leg of said frame members being attached to the upper ends of the side wall panel assemblies by bolts, as above described. By virtue of the construction described the side walls and roof or top Wall become an integrated, rigid structure, supported firmly on the base frame I4.

The bottom wall I2 of the oven is composed of a plurality of panel assemblies 55 which are positioned side-by-side in edgewise abutting relation, with their marginal portions supported upon the box-like members 40 of the base frame structure, and with the outer edges terminating in close proximity to the inner surfaces of the panel elements of the side walls. The panel elements constituting the bottom wall are preferably dimensioned for loose fitting in position, so as to permit limited exp-ansion due to the close proximity thereof to the heat exchanger structure 24,

In the assembly of an oven embodying the present invention two or three adjacent side walls may first be erected and the oor or bottom wall placed in position. The mechanical apparatus of the oven may be then mounted in position, after which the fourth side wall may be placed in position as well as the top wall for completing the total oven.

In baking ovens of the type herein involved, it has been found desirable to introduce a predetermined amount of live steam into the baking chamber to insure obtaining desired baking characteristics of the foodstuffs. Hence, to insure against escape of steam, as well as heat, suitable cement may be employed at the joints of the x various roof panels and the side Wall panels of the oven chamber.

It will be apparent that by virtue of the construction described, great economies are effected by the prefabrication of the various panel elements as sub-assemblies and dispensing with the necessity of pre-assembling of the various elements and components in the shop prior to shipment to the site for final erection. Furthermore, great economies are effected in the actual erection of an oven employing panel wall assemblies of the type embodying the present invention. The respective panel elements may be quickly and easily placed in position and connected together to comprise the respective walls forming the wall enclosure of the oven.

Although we have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of our invention, manifestly it is capable of modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. We do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as we may be so limited by the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A prefabricated panel unit for a wall of a baking oven, comprising a pair of polygonal sheet metal plates having their marginal edges bent to form flanges and thereby defining pan-like elements, said plates being positioned in cooperating relation with their flanges extending toward each other in substantially aligned spaced-apart relation, bats of heat insulating material fitted into said pan-like elements and abutting each other, and a plurality of spaced-apart, tubular metallic members positioned between said elements and bats and rigidly connected at their ends to sets of aligned iianges, at opposite edges of said elements to constitute guideways for tie-rods and for securing said elements together, in such spaced apart relation, and with the openings of said members disposed in registration with the spaces between the flanges of said elements.

2. A prefabricated panel unit for a wall of a baking oven comprising a pair of polygonal sheet metal plates having their marginal edges bent to form flanges and thereby defining pan-like elements, said plates being positioned in cooperating relation with their anges extending toward each other in substantially aligned, spaced-apart relation, bats of heat insulating material tted into said pan-like elements and abutting each other, and a plurality of spaced-apart, tubular metallic members positioned between said elements and bats and rigidly connected at their ends to said flanges at opposite edges of said elements, and the flange at the upper end of one of said elements terminating in an upwardly extending flange for purposes of anchorage and sealing of the unit in assembled relation with other panel units.

References Cited in the le of this patent y UNITED STATES PATENTSI Number Name Date 874,939 `Clayton et al. Dec. 31, 1907 1,284,758 Olson Nov. 12, 1918 2,158,234 Griebsch May 16, 1939 2,209,564 Grubb July 30, 1940 2,209,816 Grapp July 30, 1940 2,240,487 Benham May 6, 1941 2,327,727 Loose et al. Aug. 24, 1943 2,376,728 Shaer May 22, 1945 

